Moscato D’Asti, from the Piedmont region of Italy, is a sweet, fizzy, low-alcohol wine meant for those of us who’d rather drink our dessert than have a slice of cake.

Not as sparkling as Champagne or  Prosecco, the soft display of bubbles in the glass makes for a playful ending to a meal and is also easy to drink solo. Now that fruit is plentiful, try this sparkling wine with a bowl of fresh berries and cream after a night of fireworks. The best Moscato will have a backbone of acidity and a body of flavor akin to a sweet summer peach.

Here are a few with local distribution to try. Make sure to buy the most recent vintage available. The fruit drops out and the wine loses its bubbly-punch with age.
 
Saracco Moscato D’Asti
Made by the “maestro of moscato,” Saracco Moscato D’Asti is very dense and sweet, yet falls short of syrupy due to its balanced acid content. The plethora of bubbles poured into the glass move like a Ferrari on a fruit highway. This wine is a favorite of Kanye West.  
 
Chiarlo Moscato D’Asti
This moscato comes in a half-bottle size, which is plenty for two to share. It is also easy to slip into a picnic basket.

Vietti Moscato D’Asti
Vietti is one of my favorite Italian wine producers. If you have tried his nebbiolo-based wines, this is a chance to sip his softer side. In this wine, you’ll find candied pear, soft lemon and white peach flavors.
 
Star Spangled  Berries and Cream
Mix, about 1 pound combined, raspberries and blueberries together in a large bowl and add ¼ c. of Anisette. Allow to macerate for an hour in the refrigerator. To make the whipped cream, frappe ½ pint of heavy whipping cream in a blender and sweeten with limoncello or other liqueur of your liking. Spoon the berries into a parfait glass and top with whipped cream. Serve immediately.
 
Genevelyn Steele CSW is a certified specialist of wine with the Society of Wine Educators and guild-level sommelier. You can find her musing about wine on her blog, www.genevelynsteeleswallows.blogspot.com.